Nitrogen fertilizer is popular with a different name as Urea. In India, during the green revolution, the use of fertilizer increased. It is not that we Indians were not using fertilizer but that was manure or ash. Before the green revolution, India was facing a shortage of food. More or less after the second world war, this was the case across the globe. To feed the Indian population it was necessary to increase the productivity of crops. It was essential for scientists to come with a solution for highly productive crops. The use of fertilizers helped in increasing the productivity of crops and helped to match the food demand of the growing population. You can understand the benefits of fertilizers by the fact that farmers have tripled or quadrupled their crop’s productivity.
In the last two decades, the use of synthetic nitrogen by the farmer has increased globally. There is no denying that the use of urea increases the enhancement of the crops. Just like the human body crops also need nutrients to grow. Due to the profit margin, farmers are using excessive nitrogen fertilizers. Chemical fertilizers are not good for the soil as well as human health. In the longer term, excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers disrupts the biology of the soil.
Impacts of UREA on Human Body
The human body naturally produces Urea. Synthetic urea is manufactured with anhydrous ammonia. Foods that are produced with nitrogen fertilizers are high on nitrate. Consuming such diets can lead to cancer, a thyroid condition, and diabetes. The risk of cancer is high with intake of water in which nitrate levels are high. It has been reported that chemical fertilizers play a role in Alzheimer’s disease. Other research suggests that chemical fertilizers increase the chances of chronic disease.
With the following tips you can avoid using the consumption of food that is high on nitrate.
One of the best options is to opt for organic food. Organic foods are chemical-free. Organic foods are grown with the manure. Synthetic pesticides, petroleum-based fertilizers, and sewage sludge-based fertilizers are not used for organic farming. Organic foods are always fresh because they are not preserved. These foods are sold locally. Studies suggest that organic foods are high on good nutrients such as antioxidants. One negative of organic food is that they are expensive. So I am listing the foods that you should consider buying from an organic farm.
- Apples
- Cucumbers
- Potatoes
- Grapes
- Spinach
- Strawberries
If you can afford all the organic food then it is best for your health to replace all the diets with an organic diet otherwise at least you should replace the above mentioned foods.
Meat and its products are not organic but are chemical-free. If you are a non-vegetarian replacing your regular diets with non-veg won’t be a problem. Eating too much meat is also not good for health. You will have to balance your diet. Nowadays organic meat is also available. Animals are fed organic grass and corn. You can find organic eggs and chicken meat in a big market place. Just like organic food, organic meat is also expensive.
References
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29139074/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3068045/
